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Myanmar - a new darling of the West

Reflections on a rich country with poor people

After decades of isolation – imposed by major OECD countries out of concern for the country’s human rights violations – Myanmar is emerging as a new darling of the “West” – judging by the accelerating succession of visits by senior officials and gurus – among them the US Secretary of State, the UK Foreign Secretary, and high-level government officials from France, Norway and other countries. The UN Secretary General may pay a visit. The World Bank is being urged to resume work there – which had not been possible due to the international sanctions policy. And new groups of investors are waiting to enter the country as soon as possible. By Gabriele Köhler

This sudden enthusiasm, after years of ostracising the country and depriving it of any bi- or multilateral development cooperation save of a humanitarian nature, is a response to – much welcome – changes introduced by a government that came into power in 2011 in an orchestrated election process. Recent reforms include the release of some political prisoners, the re-constitution of the Myanmar human rights commission, the weakening of censure and an opening of internet access, the adoption of a law allowing trade unions and the right to strike, the suspension of an environmentally damaging hydropower project with China, and other steps ...

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NGOs urge open selection of World Bank President / The WDEV highlights of 2011

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Issue 6/Nov-Dec 2011
G20: Wrong forum for development + German aid under Niebel + London contra FTT + Food speculation: How it works
Issue 5/Sep-Oct 2011
The global social crisis +++ Thanks to Germany it's 2008 all over again +++ Nepal: Second chance for Maoists
Issue 4/Jul-Aug 2011
Non-FDI modes of international production + Bail-out 2.0 for Greece + Europe: Tobin tax on the move
Issue 3/May-Jun 2011
Survey on trade union rights violation + BRICS on the new IMF director + Greece and the euro + Green Economy for LDCs?
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LDC-IV in Istanbul +++ Reforming the global monetary system: Whick role for the IMF +++ Escalation of food prices +++ Remittances and development
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Myanmar - a new darling of the West
After decades of isolation - imposed by major OECD countries out of concern for the country's human rights violations - Myanmar is emerging as a new darling of the "West" - judging by the accelerating succession of visits by senior officials and gurus. New groups of investors are waiting to enter the country as soon as possible.
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